anti-meningococcal
|an-ti-me-nin-go-coc-cal|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.mɛn.ɪnˈɡɑk.əl/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.mɛn.ɪnˈɡɒk.əl/
against meningococcus / preventing meningococcal disease
Etymology
'anti-meningococcal' is a modern compound formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek anti- 'against') and 'meningococcal', the adjectival form of 'meningococcus' (the bacterium).
'meningococcal' derives from 'meningococcus', a term coined in bacteriology from Greek 'meninx' (membrane) + 'kokkos' (berry) to name the causative organism; the prefix 'anti-' was later attached in medical terminology to denote agents acting against that organism or disease.
Initially the elements referred literally to 'against the meningococcus (bacterium)'; over time the compound has been used specifically to describe vaccines, sera, and preventive measures against meningococcal disease.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance or agent (for example, a vaccine or antiserum) that acts against meningococcus or is used to prevent or treat meningococcal infection.
Health workers administered an anti-meningococcal to the patient after exposure.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
directed against Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) or against meningococcal disease; used to describe vaccines, sera, or measures that prevent or counteract meningococcal infection.
The clinic offers an anti-meningococcal vaccine for incoming students.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/05 02:03